Kastenbudt, Clara Catherine

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1844, USA
• Census: Aug 1850, Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA
• Census: May 1870, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA
• Census: Jul 1870, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA
• Census: Jun 1880, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA

Notes:

Immigration:
According to accounts published later in her life, Clara Kastenbudt emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1844. She moved on to St. Louis, Missouri in 1846, where she joined the German Methodist Episcopal Church and met her future husband, Heinrich Hermann Fiegenbaum.

Census:
According to the 1850 enumeration, the household consisted of "H. H. Fiegenbaum," a 29 year old Methodist minister and "Catharine Fiegenbaum," age 26.

Census:
According to the 1870 enumeration, the household consisted of Henry, age 50, a minister; Clara, age 47, at home; Mary, age 19, at home; Carri, age 17, at home; George, age 16, a clerk; Anna, age 13, at home; Minnie, age 11, at home; Legette, age 9, at home; Louis Deitch, age 26, a dry goods merchant; and Mike Connelly, age 22, a clerk.

Census:
According to the 1870 enumeration, the household consisted of Henry, age 50, clergyman of the Methodist church, and a citizen of the USA; Clara, age 46, keeping house; Mary, age 20, blind; Carrie, age 17; George, age 15, in school; Anna, age 13, in school; Minnie, age 11, in school; and Lizzetta, age 8, in school.

Census:
According to the 1880 enumeration, the household, living on 4th Street, in St. Joseph, consisted of Henry Fiegenbaum, age 60, married, minister; Clara, age 56, wife, married, keeping house; Mary, age 29, daughter, single,at home; George, age 25, son, single, doctor; Annie, age 23, daughter, single, at home; Minnie, age 20, daughter, single, at home; and Lizzette, age 18, daughter, single, at home.

Buried:
Clara was buried in Ashland Cemetery.

Died:

     The following is a transcription supplied by Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts of an obituary for Mrs. Clara Fiegenbaum which she reported had appeared on 3 September 1897 in the St. Joseph Daily News, St. Joseph, Missouri.

"Mrs. Clara Fiegenbaum, wife of Rev. Henry Fiegenbaum, a retired minister of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, died at eight o'clock last night at the family residence, 1123 North Fifth Street, of paralysis. The deceased was seventy-four years old and had been a resident of St. Joseph for thirty years. She was one of the most earnest workers in the church and was beloved by all who knew her. Misses Anna and Mary Fiegenbaum and Mrs. J. C. Steinmetz of this city, and Mrs. Thomas Curry of Oregon, Missouri are daughters of the deceased. The funeral services will be held at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon from the German M. E. Church, Third and Robidoux Streets."

     The following obituary was published in the The Holt County Sentinel (Oregon, Missouri) on Friday, 10 September 1897:

          A Well Rounded Life.

     One by one the pioneer mothers of Methodism are dropping out, and passing over the great river, to take their places in the ranks of those of an immortality, and we are called upon this week, to record the death of one of the grand old Methodist mothers: The spirit of "Mother Fiegenbaum, wife of Rev. Henry Fiegenbaum, of the German M. E. church, burst its mortal fetters and went out to meet the Master, whom she loved so much to serve while on earth, and whom she had devotedly served for over half a century, at her home in St. Joseph on Thursday evening last, September 2, 1897, from paralysis, at the age of 74 years.
     She was a devoted Christian woman. She believed that Christianity presented the true philosophy of life - giving contentment of mind and peace within that this world cannot give nor take away. She was always to be found where duty called, whether it was by her husband's side in his great religious work or at some lonely hut in sweet charity's name. If she quitted her God at the altar, it was to find Him in her domestic duties. She did service as if it was a pleasure or privilege, accepting the thorns with the roses without a murmur. Indeed her life was a candle that wasted and burns itself up shining, so patient was she, so thoughtful, so forgiving, so charitable.
     Clara Kastenbudt was born in Osnabrueck, Hanover, Germany, December 9, 1823. In 1844 she came to America, first locating at Cincinnati. She then came to St. Louis in 1846, and that year she united with the German M. E. church, and it was here that she first met her now bereaved husband, and in this church, where these two were converted, the marriage ceremony was said, Sunday, April 11, 1847. With him, hand in hand, heart to heart, she shared the toils and privations, the joys and the sorrows, in the itinerant ministry, until a few years ago failing health made it necessary for her husband to retire from active ministerial work.
     Her religion was fundamental, and all her life grew out of it. She was probably a greater instrumentality in leading lost souls to Christ than we may be able to comprehend, and how much of her husband's great success during his effective service in the ministry was due to her strengthening and encouraging influence, only eternity will reveal.
     As a true wife and self-sacrificing Christian mother, "Mother" Fiegenbaum might be said to have been a model of perfection. It was the dearest wish of her heart to make her home what it should be, and in this she succeeded in a most admirable manner. Her hospitality was proverbial, and those who partook of it will remember her with the kindest of feelings. She was a true helpmeet to her now bereaved husband, who, in her death, he and surviving children loses one who was tenderness and love.
     She was a most obliging neighbor, and generous toward the needy - never did any one [sic] go away from her door hungry, any [sic] truly it may be said that she was a friend to all, and all were her friends.
     April 11th, of this year, 1897, their golden wedding was celebrated. Some anxiety had been expressed to see the aged pilgrims reach this milestone in their earthly career, which through the mercy of Him, who doeth all things well, was granted them.
     She leaves a husband and four daughters, Mrs. Carrie Steinmetz, Misses Mary and Anna, of St. Joseph, and Mrs. Mina Curry, of this city, to cherish the fond memory of one of the truest and noblest of wives and mothers.
     Funeral services were held from the German M. E. church in St. Joseph on Saturday, September 4, conducted by her pastor, Rev. Charles Harmes, assisted by Presiding Elder Tanner and Bishop Fitzgerald.
     The remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the Ashland cemetery.

Clara married Fiegenbaum, Heinrich Hermann 11 Apr 1847, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Heinrich (son of Fiegenbaum, Adolph Heinrich and Peterjohann, Christine Elisabeth) was born 15 Oct 1821, Lengerich, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia; died 13 Jan 1905, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 16 Jan 1905, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:

     The following is a transcription of an article published in The Holt County Sentinel (Oregon, Missouri) on Friday, 16 April 1897.

          Half A Century.
          Rev. Henry Fiegenbaum and
          Wife Celebrate Their Golden
          Wedding in St. Joseph,
          Monday, April
          12, 1897.

          Were United in Marriage, April 11,
          1847 - Recipients of Many Hand-
          some Presents - Telegrams and
          Letters of Congratulations
          Received by the Score.

     This mile stone was reached by Rev. Henry and Mrs. Clara Fiegenbaum of St. Joseph, Mo., on last Sunday April 11th, 1897.
     Cards had been sent out, announcing the coming event with a reception on Monday, April 12, 1897, at their home, 1123 North 5th Street, St. Joseph, Mo.
     Sunday, April 11, 1847, found the bridal party in the house of God in St. Louis, Mo., and at the close of the sermon the minister, Rev. Casper Yost, called forward the young couple who wished to be joined in holy matrimony and then and there pronounced them husband and wife.

     [anniversary photo here]

     Last Sunday, April, 11, 1897, they had reached the Golden stepping stone, and true to their early faith, wended their way to the house of God. It being Palm Sunday, they found the church a bower of palms. At the close of the sermon, Rev. Charles Harmes, pastor in charge, called forward the bridal party, and seating them before the altar delivered a fitting address to them, and in connection read a poem written for the occasion [sic] by Rev. J. A. Reitz, of Junction City, Kansas, Mrs. Dorethia [sic] Lahrman, of St. Joseph, Mo., the only living guest and witness of the marriage in 1847, acting as one bride's maid and Mrs. Dorathea Balcke as the other bride's maid.
     After the wedding ceremony, the bridal party went to their home where a 5 o'clock dinner was served.
     Those present were Rev. F. Fiegenbaum and wife, of Oregon, Mo.; Dr. J. F. Heinz and wife, Dr. H. R. Riemer and wife, Rev. J. A. Mueller and wife, Rev. Chas. Harmes, Mrs. Rev. J. G. K[o?]st, Mrs. Rev. Geo. Schatz, Mrs. Rev. H. Lahrman and Mrs. Rev. F. Balcke, and Miss Eda Heinz, all of St. Joseph, Mo.; Tom Curry, wife, children, of Oregon, Mo.; J. C. Steinmetz and wife, Adolph, Clara, Nettie, Emma, Addie and George Steinmetz, Julia and May Neudorff, Misses Mary and Anna Fiegenbaum and Miss Lydia Gutknecht, of St. Joseph, Mo.
     As early as Thursday the letters of congratulations came rolling in, and by Wednesday, 100 letters and fifteen telegrams had been received. Donations from friends were numerous and expensive, and true to the Golden Standard of our country, the bridal couple received one dollar each for every year of connubial bliss. Rare coins, such as a $2½ gold piece, coined in 1847, and $1.00 gold pieces were found among the presents.
     It would be well to give a short sketch of the lives of this worthy couple.
     Henry Fiegenbaum was born in Ladbergen, Prussia, Oct. 16, 1820; came to America with his parents in 1832, by the way of New Orleans; thence up the Mississippi river to St. Charles county, Mo., and in 1845 to St. Louis, Mo.
     Mrs. Clara Fiegenbaum (nee) Kastenbudt, was born in Osnabruck, Hanover, Dec. 9, 1823, and came to America in 1844, first going to Cincinnatti [sic] and thence to St. Louis, where in 1846 she united with the German M. E. church, and it was then and there that these two hearts met and in the same church where each were converted and joined that the marriage ceremoney [sic] was performed, Sunday, April 11, 1847, that made them one for life - for better or for worse, and in looking back over the years, they cannot but say: Truly, the Lord has been good unto us.
     In 1847 Mr. Fiegenbaum received exhorter's license, and in 1848 was sent out to fill a charge at Okoe, Ill., until conference. He joined the Illinois conference and was sent on the Belleville circuit.
     1848 to 1850 they were stationed at Mascoutah, Ill.; 1850 to 1852, Muscatine, Iowa; 1852 to 1860 in Galena, Ill.; 1860 to 1864 in Wapello, Iowa, Presiding Elder; 1864-1867 in Pekin, Ill.; 1867 to 1870 in Quincy, Ill.; 1870 to 1872 in St. Joseph, Mo., Presiding Elder; 1872 to 1875 in Oregon, Mo.; 1875 to 1883 in St. Joseph, Mo., Presiding Elder; 1883 to 1886 in St. Joseph, Mo., as station minister; 1886 to 1889 in Sedalia, Mo., and finding his health failing him retired from active charge in the ministry and found a home in St. Joseph, Mo., from whence they celebrated their Golden wedding on last Sunday.
     "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint," - has been verified in the lives of these servants of God, and that they may spend the remainder of their lives in sweet communion with that Master and friend in whom they have trusted all these years, and that they may have a glorious golden sunset with a golden sunrise in the better world, is the wish of their many friends, both far and near.


Residence (family):
From 1850-1852 (in Muscatine) and again from 1854-1864, Heinrich served Methodist congregations in Iowa.

1. Fiegenbaum, Edward Heinrich was born 22 Aug 1848, Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA; died Bef 1850.
2. Fiegenbaum, Anna Maria was born 3 Sep 1850, Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA; died 26 Jun 1937, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 28 Jun 1937, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.
3. Fiegenbaum, Caroline Katherine was born 31 Oct 1852, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA; died 11 Sep 1932, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 13 Sep 1932, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.
4. Fiegenbaum, George Adolph was born 1 Jan 1855, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA; died 27 Apr 1896, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 29 Apr 1896, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.
5. Fiegenbaum, Anna Julia was born 28 May 1857, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA; died 26 Sep 1942, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 28 Sep 1942, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.
6. Fiegenbaum, Christina Wilhelmina was born 30 Aug 1859, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA; died 22 Nov 1929, Oregon, Holt County, Missouri, USA; was buried 24 Nov 1929, Oregon, Holt County, Missouri, USA.
7. Fiegenbaum, Lizette Clara was born 24 Mar 1862, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 6 Feb 1892, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA; was buried 13 Feb 1892, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA.
8. Fiegenbaum, Franz N. was born 8 Nov 1865, Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois, USA; died 22 Feb 1866, Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois, USA; was buried , Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois, USA.